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Monday, January 07, 2013

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

This one goes to show you that there really are no guarantees in beauty products, even when you do the responsible thing and sample before buying. I've had numerous sample and travel size tubes of Clarins Beauty Flash Balm over the last couple of years. I've used them sporadically, rarely (never?) two days in a rw, but I used them up again and again. I've been testing and researching primer-type products that are also supposed to give the face a healthy glow and/or brighten and awaken the skin. Clarins Beauty Flash Balm is one of the more popular creams in this category, and it's readily available. So, what can go wrong?

Apparently, a lot.

I bought a full size tube and started using the balm regularly; I applied it after my skin care and before makeup, as well as on its own when staying in. Perhaps I overdid it, but my daily use of Clarins Beauty Flash Balm resulted in the worst case of clogged pores I've experienced in years. I simplified my routine and stuck to my tried and true products along with this Clarins balm just to verify it was the real culprit, and it was. There was something sickly fascinating to watch how bad it was for me-- I could almost see the clogging happening in real time. But seriously, I'm too old for this particular skin care battle.

16 comments:

Silicones do that to my skin! That's why I can't handle wearing primers on my face regularly (I save it for special days). I was eying the Clarins Flash Balm thinking it might act differently on my skin and then reminded myself of the usual clogged pores fiasco that ensues after using primer. Ugh, primers are seriously difficult for me to find - I could totally use them too with my oily skin!

I do very well with silicone (on my face. Hair/scalp is another itchy story). There must be something else here that hates my skin. As for primers, my best advice is to go to various counters and Sephora to ask for samples of every single primers they have and try them slowly. There has to be one for you out there. I find primers to be an important part of makeup-- it makes a huge difference for me.

I bought it last year at duty free, pretty much because of Lisa Eldridge. I have only worn it a few time and never found it made such a difference in terms of skin improvement nor long-lastingness of my makeup, my regular primers work way better for that. So I should try and use it up for the sake of not throwing it away but I really don't get the hype, and to think this is supposed to be a mask in fact and not a primer, I really don't see what good it would do me as such.

It definitely doesn't perform as a good primer should, and between its questionable skin care value and the pore clogging, I'm giving my tube away to someone who might appreciate it better. I'm starting to think that mixing a good illuminator/liquid highlighter into an effective primer might be a better choice for me as far as under-foundation glow is concerned. But I've also been testing a couple of other products- one by Kanebo Sensai and one by Oskia (this one is because of Lisa E).

This piece is so timely! I used a bit of the my tube just before NYE and had a terrible breakout...particulary on my cheeks which never ever happens to me. I also attribute it solely to the Beauty Flash Balm. I was hesitant to get rid of my tube but this made up my mind.

As much as I love Clarins in general, this is one product I've never managed to use, it causes my sensitive skin to breakout. I typically use Laura Mercier's Mineral Primer mixed with a touch of Peau Vierge or LM's Illumninating Tinted Moisturizer with SPF. Either choice gives me a subtle glow and sets makeup nicely without being too much.

Oh my goodness....This article has made the penny drop, flip up, and drop again. After a lifetime of having lovely skin ) I started to use this product a few years ago (I hit my 30s and thought a little help was needed!).As the years have gone on - my skin has got more and more congested, clogged and generally dirty feeling. As I sit here now I feel like I have a 'mask' on and my skin can't breathe. I put it down to hormonal changes, age, stress - you name it! Everything but the product I was slathering on every day. I started spending more and more on cleansers and moisturisers but it got worse. My skin looked and felt awful.....so I slopped on more Beauty Flash balm. Catch 22.I never thought that a Clarins product could actually be harming my skin.

Hi there, I also get breakouts from the Beauty Flash Balm if I use it two days in a row. I guess that the rice starch ingredient it contains may feed the bacteria on my skin. In fact I have the same problem whenever I use a product, like e.g a face powder), which contains rice starch or corn starch. These ingredients are natural and oil absorbing, but since they are food derived can feed bacteria on the skin.

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